Shuttle piler



y 5, 1964 K. s. DUCAYET, JR 3,131,819

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INVENIOR MR8) 5. DUCAYETJR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,131,819SHUTTLE FILER Kirby S. Durayet, Jr., Stockbridge, Mass., assignor to TheClark-Aiken Company, Lee, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts FiledApr. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 102,969 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) This inventionrelates to improvements in apparatus used in the handling of sheetmaterial, and more particularly to an improved piler for a layboy.

In the formation of sheets of paper, film, foil, etc., a layboy isusually provided for stacking the sheets as they are discharged from thecutter. The conventional layboy includes a series of joggers whichconstantly move back and forth against the edges of the sheets as theyare being stacked to achieve their vertical alignment, and a mechanismto maintain the top of the stack at a predetermined level. When thedesired number of sheets or height is attained, the cutter is shut downand the stack is lowered. The stack is usually received on a skid which,with the stack, is removed from the layboy and replaced by an emptyskid. The time lapse which then occurs while the cutter is not operatingis significant and consequently the capacity of the cutter and layboy isseriously affected.

In the continuous type of layboy, a temporary support is provided forthe stack while the completed stack is removed. But this does not reducethe time lapse while the filled skid is removed and replaced by an emptyskid, and in practice with a high-speed cutter, a layboy of this typecannothandle the stack in the time allowed without the closecoordination of at least two men in unloading and replacing the skid.For this reason, at high-speed operations the cutter must be shut downperiodically to permit the removal and replacement of skids with theresultant limitation on the efiiciency of the cutter and layboy.

The foregoing dificulties are somewhat alleviated by a revolving layboypiler, but it is found with such a piler that centrifugal force on theformed stacks dictates slow rotation of the piler and, as a consequence,the cutter and layboy are shut down for an appreciable length of time.Moreover, the additional space required and type of constructionnecessary for such a piler make it unsuitable in many existing papermills.

The object of this invention is to provide. a sheet stacking arangementand system for a layboy which overcomes the above deficiencies and canbe adapted to existing mills having either conventional or thecontinuous type of layboy.

Another object is to provide a novel means for expediting the handlingof sheets so that the period during which the cutter is shut down iseliminated or substantially reduced.

An advantage of the invention resides in that not only does it savevaluable time in providing a rapid exchange of skids in the layboy, butalso it is economical insofar as the eifective utilization of floorspace is concerned. Other objects and advantages will become apparentfrom the disclosure with respect to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the shuttle piler together with aportion of the layboy;

FIGURES 2 through 6 show a cycle of shuttle pilers in operation. In thisrespect, FIGURE 2 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the rightreceiving table in position and starting to receive a stack;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view, showing the stack completed on the rightreceiving table;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view, showing the left receiving table in positionand starting to receive a stack whereas the right receiving tableisready to be unloaded;

3,131,819 Patented May 5., 1964 "ice FIGURE 5 is a similar view, showingthe left receiving table now loaded and the right receiving tableunloaded and ready for another stack;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view, showing the completion of the cycle with theleft receiving table in position to be unloaded and the right receivingtable in position and starting to receive a stack;

FIGURE 7 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the shuttle piler;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic drawing showing the hydraulic system and itselectrical control circuit; and

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view of the stack level detector.

The device relates to two platform lifts or receiving tables 10 and 11which are linked together by a metal housing 12 which contains ahydraulic pump 49, drive motor 70, and other apparatus to providelifting power for the tables 10 and 11 and drive the shuttle piler 14.The assembly is basically designed to pile sheets of paper, film, foil,etc. with each table in itself being an elevator. The drive mechanismfacilitates the rapid removal of a completed pile of paper on one of thetables while at the same time bringing in the second table.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings shows the shuttle piler 14 incooperation with a layboy. 15 which in this case is a conventionallayboy although it will be apparent from the disclosure that the shuttlepiler 14 may also be used advantageously with other types of layboyssuch as continuous layboys. No attempt will be made to described layboy15 in detail except insofar as it cooperates with the shuttle piler 14inasmuch as the various designs of layboys are well known in the art.FIGURE 1, therefore, only shows the portion of the layboy which extendsover the shuttle piler.

The layboy includes a plurality of conveyors 16 which convey the sheetpaper to the piler 14. Conveyors 16' i are conventional such asconveyors 19 in US. Patent 2,849,236. It also includes a frame structure17 which provides support for the terminal end of the conveyors 16. Arms19 extend over the shuttle piler as shown in FIGURE 1 from the framestructure 17. Joining arms 19 are joggers comprising two horizontalshafts 20 and 21 which slideably carry guides 22 and 24. Guides 22 and24 may be selectively adjusted and fixed at any desired place alongshafts 20 and 21 by securing means 25 and 26. Joining arms 19 at theirextremities away fromconveyors 16 is an end guide 27 which acts as asheet stop for the sheets delivered from conveyors 16. Well knownmechanisms for reciprocating the joggers are contained in arms 19.

FIGURE 1 shows a stack 29 which has already been re ceived on a skid 30which, in turn, is carried by the left receiving table 11. The shuttlepiler 14 includes a lefit receiving table 11 and a right receiving table10 which are each mounted on electric hydraulic lifts of the scissorstype. The shuttle piler also includes a frame structure 31 which isrectangular in shape and provided with a plurality of wheels 32'whichare adapted to travel on parallel nails 34 which. are laid at rightangles to arms 19. It will thus be appreciated that shuttle piler 14will travel transversely to the layboy 15 so that either table 11 ortable 10 can be positioned to receive sheets from layboy 15. The trackis bounded at each end so that the travel of shuttle piler 14 is limitedto that distance necessary to position first one table and then theother table under layboylS in a manner as will be presently seen. Thelimitation of travel is accomplished by stops 35 and 36 securedtransversely across either end of rails 34.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 6, it will be seen that the shuttlepiler 14 is in starting position with a stack of sheets 37 alreadyreceived on skid 39 which is. supported by the right table 10. Lefttable 11 is in elevated shows the stack 37 as now completed and table 10with skid 39 is in lowered position. 7 40 remains in position as shownin FIGURE 2. When Left table 11 with skid this occurs the shuttle piler14 automatically moves into position, shown in FIGURE 4, whereby lefttable 11 is positioned under layboy 15 and has already commencedreceiving a new stack 41. Stack 37 with skid 39 is now ready to beremoved from right table 10. FIGURE shows stack 37 and skid 39 removed.A new skid 42 has been placed on right table and the table has beenelevated so as to be ready to receive sheets from layboy when the cyclestarts anew. In the meanwhile, stack 41 is now completed andv left table11 together with skid 40 is'in a lowered position. At this time theshuttle piler 14 automatically moves to a position whereby right table10 and skid 42 begin to receive a new stack 44. The just completed stack41 and skid 40 are ready for unloading and a replacement of a new skidon left table 11 now is in a loweredposition. When this is accomplished,table 11 is elevated and the cycle shown as starting in FIGURE 2 canbegin again It will thus be appreciated that the shuttle piler movesautomatically from one side to the other as the stacks are formed inorder to permit the loading of a new stack andthe unloading of the oldstack. The amount of movement of the shuttle piler 14 is minimal and theloading and unloading can be accomplished by one man with a forklift orby automatic means.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, the structure of the The rectangular framestrucshuttle piler'14 is shown. tiure, 31 is borne by six wheels 32adapted to travel on rails '34. These wheels are located at positions asshown in FIGURES 2 through 6. A housing 12 is adapted to fit betweentables 10 and 11 over a drive and hydraulic section 46. In section 46 isan electric motor 47 which drives a constant capacity hydraulic pump 49and a fan,

50 for a cooler 51. A sump tank not shown is disposed under pump 49 andcooler. 51. This hydraulic pump provides hydraulic fluid under pressureto cylinders 52 and 80 (see FIGQS) which elevate and lower tables 10and.

11. For convenience, only the cylinder 52 for the left table 11 is shownin FIGURE 7. This cylinder is secured so as to pivot about a rod 54which, in turn, is secured to lugs 55 extending downwardly from section46. The cylinder 52 contains a piston 84 (see FIG. 8) and piston rod 56which acts against a T-bearing 57. Bearing 57 carries a shaft 59 whichextends through scissorlink members 60 and 61. Link member 61 ispivotal-1y secured at wheel axle 62 to the frame structure 31. Link:

member 60 is adapted to roll in a guide 64 on its lower end. Guide 64 inturn is secured to frame structure 31 and provides support for linkmember 60 through roller 65. Extending transversely from the upper end.of link member 60 is a shaft 66 which extends. between link member 60andasimilar link member not shown on the opposite side of framestructure 31. A lug 67 attached to the underside of table '11 embracesshaft 66 and secures table 11; in a position relative thereto Severalsuch lugs may be employed for purpose. The inner portion of table 11rides on roller 69 and a similar roller in a similar scissor linkstructure opposite thereto. The shuttle piler 14 is moved to and froontracks 34 by means of an electric, mlotor 70 which turns a-gear 71 whichin turn meshes with and turns a gear 72 which is fixed to the proximatewheel 32. In the hydraulic system there is a stop valve 81 and adischarge valve 91. -It will be understood that the mechanism forlifting table 10 is the same as that shown under table 11 in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, it be seen that hydraulic pump 49 takessuction through a strainer 76 and discharges through lines 77 and 79 tocylinders 52 and 80 under the left table 11 and the right table 10, re-

spectively' Stop valves 81 and182 are interspersed be-,' tween the pumpand the cylinders for each of the respec-v tive lines. The hydraulicpressure in cylinder '52 acts of the scissor-type elevator 85 undertable 11. der 80 :a piston 86 is acted upon by hydraulic pressure tomove a piston rod 87 in scissor-type lift 89 which controls the elevatorof table 10. Connected to the hydraulic fluid in cylinder 52 is a line90 containing a stop valve 91 and a throttling or flow control valve 92.Line 90 acts to carry hydraulic fluid back to sump 94. Similarly, thereis a line 95 which is interconnected with ,the hydraulic fiuidincylinder 80 to discharge fluid from cylinder 80 into sump 94 through astop valve 96 and a throttling or fiow control valve. 97. At either endof frame structure 31 are limit switches 99 and 100.

and 70, controller 114, switches 99, 100, 101, 111,

Mounted on layboy 15 is a pile level detector 101 which is operativelyconnected with [the pile lowering mechanism to maintain the top of thestack of sheets at a substantially constant level. The upper end ofdetector 101is provided with a portion 102 curved in the direction ofthe pile and as this upper portion engages the edge of the pile and isheld away from the pile it operates switch 194 which momentarily opensstop valve 91 to permit a small amount of hydraulic fluid'to bedischarged from cylinder 52 and thus cause a lowering of stack 29:. -.Asthe stack 29 lowers it permits detector 101 to move in a positionoverlying the pile (FIGURE 9) and thereby closes the stop. valve 91 tostop the operation of. the pile lowering mechanism.

Each of the stop valves 31, 82, 91 and 96 are controlled by solenoids105, 106, 107 and 109, respectively. In

operation, when the stack 29 is of sulficient size, a projection 110extending from the scissor links of mechanism contacts a limit switch.111 which through solenoid 106 opens stop valve 91. This also actuatesswitch 120 which causes the cutter mechanism to be shut off. .When

stack 29 lowers a slightly additional amounhprojection contacts a secondlimit switch 112 which actuates motor controller 114 of motor 70, which,in turn, causes the shuttle piler 14 to travel to the left to such aposition whereby table 10 will be ready to receive a new stack and table11 is ready to be unloaded. When this occurs, limit switch 120 isdeactuated and the cutter mechanism is started. Skid 30 and stack 29 areremoved from table 11 and a new skid is replaced on the table. Theoperator then closes the switch 115 which opens valve 81 heretofore,closed, through solenoid 105. Hydraulic fluid then flows into cylinder52 until limit switch 116 is actuated by the scissor-type elevator 85which acts to turn 06 switch 115 and close valve 81 through solenoid105. In this position hydraulic fluid is trapped in cylinder 52unti1 thepile level detector will permit the discharge of the fluid through valve91 in the manner previously described.

When the shuttle piler 14 reaches the position whereby to go to thehydraulic system which is currently receiving 7 sheets. It will beunderstood that motor 70 is reversible through control 114 and will runone way and then the other depending uponwhich elevator'componentsupplies the actuation. The electric system for both elevators is,

of course, the same and it will be appreciated that the I shuttle pilerwill run automatically to and fro without the.

necessity of human control once the layboycommences the stacking ofsheets.

On the right side, limit switches 124,121, 122 and 12 6,

the left. It will be understood that an electrical power is suppliedwhereneeded, as, for example, to motors 47 115,- 121 and 125.

Once the operation commences, the only manual control required is forthe raising of the tables after anew skid has been placed thereon. Thisalso may be performed automatically, if desired, but it is not done herefor reasons of economy and safety.

The above description and drawings disclose a single embodiment of theinvention, and specific language has been employed in describing theseveral figures. It will, nevertheless, be understood that nolimitations of the scope of the invention are thereby contemplated, andthat various alterations and modifications may be made such as wouldoccur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. In combination with a layboy adapted to receive 5 eet material beingsuccessively fed thereto and arrange said sheet material in a verticalstack, a piler operatively associated with said layboy to receive sheetstherefrom in a vertical stack comprising a rectangular frame structuremounted to move transversely with respect to said layboy, a pair oftables linked by a housing carried by said frame structure, motive meansWithin said housing to position selectively one of said tables toreceive sheets being fed to the layboy, hydraulic means forindependently raising and lowering each of said tables, and controlmeans associated with said layboy responsive to the height of the pileof said sheet material being formed to operate said lowering means ofthe selected one of said tables which is receiving sheets from thelayboy so as to gradually lower said table as the height of the pile ofsheet material thereon increases and switch means to cause said motivemeans to position the other of said tables to receive sheets fed to saidlayboy when the selected one of said tables has lowered a predeterminedamount.

2. In combination with a layboy adapted to receive sheet materialsuccessively fed thereto and arrange said sheet material in a verticalstack, a piler operatively associated with said layboy to receive sheetstherefrom in a vertical stack comprising a frame structure, a pair ofparallel, horizontal rails laid transversely to said layboy wheelssupporting said frame structure adapted to roll on said rails, a pair ofhydraulic elevator means connected to said frame structure, a tablecarried by each of said elevator means, a housing linking said tables,motive means within said housing associated with said frame structure tomove it on said rails and to position selectively one of said tables toreceive sheet material being fed to said layboy, pile level controlmeans responsive to the height of said pile of sheet materialcontrolling said elevator means to maintain said pile of sheet materialat a substantially constant height by gradually lowering said elevatormeans, and switch means for said motive means whereby when said table islowered a predetermined amount said selected table with the pile ofsheet material thereon is positioned for unloading and said other tableis positioned to receive said sheet material to said layboy.

3. In combination with a layboy adapted to receive sheet materialsuccessively fed thereto and arrange said sheet material in a verticalstack, a piler operatively associated with said layboy to receive saidsheet material thereh'om in a vertical stack comprising a rectangularframe structure, a pair of parallel, horizontal rails transverse to saidlayboy supporting wheels mounted on said frame structure adapted to rollon said rails, a pair of independent elevator means carried by saidframe structure, a receiving table carried by each elevator means, ahousing linking said tables, said elevator means comprising an electric,hydraulic lift of the scissors type, motor means within said housingassociated with said frame structure adapted to move it along saidrails, stopper means associated with said piler to position selectivelyone of said receiving tables to receive sheet material fed to saidlayboy, pile level detector control means responsive to the height ofsaid pile of sheet material relative to said layboy controlling saidelevator means whereby to maintain said pile of sheet material at asubstantially constant height by gradually lowering said elevator means,and motor switch means for said motor means whereby when said receivingtable is lowered a predetermined amount said selected table with saidpile of sheet material thereon is positioned for unloading and saidother table is positioned to receive said sheet material to said layboyby transversely moving said frame structure along said rails.

4. In combination With a layboy adapted to receive sheet material beingsuccessively fed thereto and arrange said sheet material in a verticalstack, a piler operatively associated with said layboy to receive sheetstherefrom in a vertical stack comprising a rectangular frame structuremounted to move transversely with respect to said layboy, a pair oftables carried by said frame structure, a housing linking said tables,motive means within said housing to position selectively one of saidtables to receive sheets being fed -to the layboy, hydraulic means forindependently raising and lowering each of said tables, and controlmeans associated with said layboy responsive to the height of the pileof said sheet material being formed -to operate said lowering means ofthe selected one of said tables which is receiving sheets from thelayboy so as to lower gradually said table as the height of the pile ofsheets material thereon increases, and switch means to cause said motivemeans to position the other of said tables to receive sheets fed to saidlayboy when the selected one of said tables has lowered a predeterminedamount, and further control means associated with the height of theselected one of said tables to discontinue the feeding of said sheetmaterial during the positioning of the other of said tables.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said piler is mounted on tracks, andadditional control means are associated with the position of said pileron said tracks to deactivate said motive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,797,833 Cash July 2, 1957 2,849,236 Beaulieu Aug. 26, 1958 2,854,153Rydberg Sept. 30, 1958 2,869,739 Davis Jan. 20, 1959 3,022,904 ShiresFeb. 27, 1962

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LAYBOY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SHEET MATERIAL BEINGSUCCESSIVELY FED THERETO AND ARRANGE SAID SHEET MATERIAL IN A VERTICALSTACK, A PILER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LAYBOY TO RECEIVE SHEETSTHEREFROM IN A VERTICAL STACK COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR FRAME STRUCTUREMOUNTED TO MOVE TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO SAID LAYBOY, A PAIR OFTABLES LINKED BY A HOUSING CARRIED BY SAID FRAME STRUCTURE, MOTIVE MEANSWITHIN SAID HOUSING TO POSITION SELECTIVELY ONE OF SAID TABLES TORECEIVE SHEETS BEING FED TO THE LAYBOY, HYDRAULIC MEANS FORINDEPENDENTLY RAISING AND LOWERING EACH OF SAID TABLES, AND CONTROLMEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LAYBOY RESPONSIVE TO THE HEIGHT OF THE PILEOF SAID SHEET MATERIAL BEING FORMED TO OPERATE SAID LOWERING MEANS OFTHE SELECTED ONE OF SAID TABLES WHICH IS RECEIVING SHEETS FROM THELAYBOY SO AS TO GRADUALLY LOWER SAID TABLE AS THE HEIGHT OF THE PILE OFSHEET MATERIAL THEREON INCREASES AND SWITCH MEANS TO CAUSE SAID MOTIVEMEANS TO POSITION THE OTHER OF SAID TABLES TO RECEIVE SHEETS FED TO SAIDLAYBOY WHEN THE SELECTED ONE OF SAID TABLES HAS LOWERED A PREDETERMINEDAMOUNT.